NOVA SCOTIA MUSEUM CURATORIAL REPORT NUMBER 88 A FAMILY oj25 MUSEUMS NOV~~ Educa tion and Culture r r CURATORIAL REPORT NUMBER 88 Tracing the Built Form of r HMC Dockyard r by Brent Raymond r r r r r r r r r r © Crown Copyright 1999 Province of Nova Scotia Maritime Museum of the Atlantic r Nova Scotia Museum r Nova Scotia Department of Education and Culture r r r r r r r CURATORIAL R E P 0 R T S The Curatorial Reports of the Nova Scotia Museum make technical information on museum collections, programs, procedures and r research accessible to interested readers. r r r r r r r r r r r r HMC Dockyard I i r Table of Contents r r Acknowledgements & Preface ....... ....... ... ................................ .. .......................... ... .. .......... ..... ... ......... .... .... ..... ii Introduction ............ ............. ................................. .. ....................... ............................... ............................................... 1 r Background ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 r Method .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 r Results and Discussion ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Significant Periods of Change r 1. 1750 to 1774 ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 2. 1775 to 1818 ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 3. 1865 to 1904 ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 4. 1910 to 1938 ....................................................................................................................................................... 27 r 5. 1939 to 1945 ....................................................................................................................................................... 31 6. 1946 to 1974 ....................................................................................................................................................... 35 r 7. 1975 to present ................................................................................................................................................... 39 r Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................................. 42 r References .................................................................................................................................................................. 44 Appendices r A. Chronology of Events ........................................................................................................................................ 48 r B. Inventory of Site Features .................................................................................................................................. 71 r r r r r r HMC Dockyard I ii r Acknowledgements & Preface r I completed this project as part of the course requirements for the senior studio class in Environmental Planning at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. The client for the project was the Maritime Shipmodelers Guild, a group of individuals who allow others to enjoy the past. I thank Marilyn Gurney of the Maritime Command Museum for enduring r my constant questions and sharing her knowledge of the Dockyard. I thank Gary Shuttlack of the Public Archives of Nova Scotia for understanding the need for another view of history. I thank Paddy Coolen and Dave Rogers of Base Construction Engineering, Canadian Forces Base Halifax, for taking time out of their days to explore their archives. I r further thank Lou Collins, Jim Lotz, and Alan Ruffrnan for sharing their wisdom with someone fascinated with history. Finally, I thank my advisor, Dr. Derek Davis, for his invaluable guidance and enthusiasm throughout the project, Susan Beazley, for her patience and support, and Marven Moore and Dan Conlin of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, for r seeing the worth of the project for publication. I have received several comments and enthusiastic support from many people about this project. For this I am grateful. r To respond to the suggestions, I included a few changes to the document since 1995: 1. A set of smaller maps are included in a two page fold-out to show, at a glance, the change in built form throughout the Dockyard's history as of December 1995. Numbers are not assigned to each structure as seen in the more descriptive r maps. r 2. A ranking of the oldest structures still remaining in the Dockyard as of December 1995. r 3. Additional photographs providing extra detail to the layout and function of the Dockyard. Brent Raymond r 06.05.1997 r r r r r r r r HMC Dockyard 11 Introduction Hi storical interpretation is an important tool for appreciating hi story and gaining a better understanding of present situations. As landscapes change, it becomes more di ffi cult for us to know about our built and cultural pasts. This research project, "Tracing the Built Form of HMC Dockyard, Halifax: 1758-1995", recognizes the importance of a better understanding of o ur past and how it has shaped the present. History has fascinated us for millenni a. Schafer ( 1969: I) characte1i zes hi story as being " ...a thirst fo r knowledge of the past, wanting to share in the pageanu·y and achievement as well as to understand better the failures and follies of those who have walked before. However, history requires an accurate interpretation" . Schafer' further states that "the value of an interpretation is dependent on the availability of adequate data, analysis of the evidence in context of the events, the condition of the sources, and the availability and reliability of the witnesses, and on the methodological or disciplinary training of the investigator who gathers and evaluates the data". HMC Dockyard is situated on the western shore of Halifax Harbour, Halifax, Nova Scotia. It has an important role in the history of Halifax. The present Dockyard encompasses an area of 16.76 acres, stretching from Halifax Shipyard Limited to the Halifax waterfront at Purdy's Wharf. In 1969, the Dockyard became part of Maritime Command and 2 ceased its operation as a separate entity from the Halifax Defense Complex • Today, it remains an important feature in the urban form of Halifax and the naval activity of Canada. Halifax Harbour l HMC Dockyard \2 Background l J HMC Dockyard and Halifax, Nova Scotia have a very close relationship dating back to their foundings. Chebucto Harbour was ftrst recognized by the Mi'kmaq for its fish and game. The French realized the strategic importance of the deep, natural harbour in 1711 with intentions to fortify it themselves. The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 conveyed Nova l Scotia to British rule. With a change in plans, the French moved their military focus to Louisbourg to protect the entrance to the St. Lawrence3• In 1749, Edward Cornwallis and 1500 British sailors, soldiers, and colonists settled in Halifax Harbour to begin a military and naval outpost. Halifax has the distinction of being the ftrst British North J 4 American colony founded by direct government action • From Halifax, the British would attack Louisbourg, oppose French control in Quebec, and protect the Commonwealth's interests in North America. A formal naval facility was 5 needed to maintain the British fleet and to adequately defend their interests • l In February, 1758, the British Navy purchased two acres of waterfront land from Joseph Gorham6• The lot, known as Gorham's Point, stretched from Water Street to the water's edge. The following February, Governor Lawrence granted seven additional acres to the Navy. The King's Yard, which was established in 1759, became entitled to all the benefits l 7 afforded an official dockyard • The Dockyard's role in British North America has changed dramatically over 236 years. During the ftrSt 25 years, the l Royal Navy constructed only the facilities necessary to support the British fleet. In 1775, the Dockyard's importance increased. Halifax became the last British stronghold in North America following the demise of Boston and New York. In 1819, the British Navy relocated its North American Headquarters to Bermuda, subsequently reducing Halifax to a l supply depot. The American Civil War of 1861-1870 caused a brief period of intense improvement to the Yard8• With the threat ofAmerican aggression once again apparent, Halifax became an important base of operation in any offensive against the United States9• l l l l l J l l l l HMC DocJ..:yard I 3 Camber between Careening and Anchor Wharf c.J880s (MCM) l HMC Dockyard \4 l l At the turn of the century, Britain had to reassess its position in North America on the heel of challenges to its world leadership. The Germans were taking full advantage of new technology and bolstering their military and naval power 10 at an alarming pace • Britain decided in 1904 to focus its naval strengths in Europe rather than North America, resulting